Embarking on a nationwide demonstration against EC needless; go to IPAC with evidence — Atik Mohammed to NDC

Policy Analyst Atik Mohammed has criticized the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for its planned nationwide demonstration against the Electoral Commission (EC) over alleged discrepancies uncovered during the recent voter exhibition exercise.

Speaking on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' morning show on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, Atik Mohammed suggested that the NDC should consider more appropriate avenues rather than resorting to public protests.

"I have heard that the NDC wants to embark on a nationwide demonstration to register their displeasure over the discrepancies they have seen with the voters register. I don’t know to what end they want to do this. If there are issues you’ve found with the register, I believe that there are clearer procedures," Atik Mohammed said.

He advised the NDC to utilize the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) as a platform to address their concerns, emphasizing that IPAC has been an effective forum for resolving electoral issues in the past.

"They may not be exactly constitutional but there are conventional ways to address this issue. IPAC is a great platform which has worked for us over the years. You can actually demand that the Electoral Commission calls for an IPAC meeting, then you can lay bare your findings while attaching evidence to it," he added.

Atik Mohammed expressed concern that the NDC’s planned demonstration could set a negative precedent, noting that the EC has not officially announced any voters' register ahead of the December 7 general elections.

He questioned the purpose of the demonstration, stating, "What impression are you looking at creating with the register? Are we creating the impression that the Electoral Commission is running with a terrible register?

“Little do they even know that the EC has not officially announced the existence of any register because the EC has not announced anything of that sort. So what exactly is the demonstration about?"

Atik’s remarks followed an announcement by NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah on Monday, September 9, 2024, after filing the nomination forms for the party's flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama.

Addressing the media, Asiedu Nketiah declared that the NDC would hold a massive nationwide demonstration across all 16 regional capitals on September 17, 2024, in reaction to alleged non-compliance by the EC.